This heroic act in behalf of the souls in Purgatory consists in a voluntary offering made in their favor to the Divine Majesty, by any one of the faithful, of all works of satisfaction done by him in his life, as well as of all the suffrages which shall be offered for him after his death. By this offering he forgoes in their behalf only that special fruit which belongs to himself, so…

Holy Church, our good and tender mother, most ardently desires that her children be admitted to the beatific vision of God, and incessantly offers pious supplications, during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Divine Office, to obtain mercy for the suffering souls, thereby teaching us to think of them frequently; for to the end of time there shall be souls in the flames of Purgatory…

"With what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again." (Matth.vii.2.) It will readily be seen that this word of the Divine Savior are applicable to the assistance we should render to the souls departed.



The learned Cardinal Cajetan says: "Those who in this life forget the departed, will, hereafter, in my opinion, be deprived in Purgatory of all participation in good…

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." (Matt.v.7.)



Theologians assert that those who bestow mercy upon the suffering souls shall themselves find great relief and assistance in Purgatory. They consider active charity towards the holy souls a mark of predestination to eternal happiness. It is true, says St. Thomas Aquinas, that he who satisfies for the…

According to St. Paul, the Apostle, the honor and glory of God should be the principle motive of all our actions: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do; do all things for the glory of God" (1 Cor. x. 31) "The glorification of God ought to be our special aim in our works, most particularly in out acts of charity for the dead; and justly so, for, by delivering these holy…

The prayers and works of charity which we bestow on the suffering souls in Purgatory, not only increase our spiritual merit, they also call forth the gratitude of the holy ransomed souls; for, when these dear souls are, by our endeavors, admitted to the vision of God, they cease not to prove the warmth of their thankfulness and love by imploring for us the help of which we are so much in…

St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, affirms that the succor and suffrage given to the departed are more acceptable to God than that which is bestowed upon the living, because the former are more in need and unable to obtain help for themselves.



The Venerable Ludovico Blosio, a great master of the spiritual life, says: Our good and merciful Lord loves the souls of his…

The Church has at all times recommended and the saints have always had recourse to works of penance as the best means of obtaining extraordinary graces from God. And there is no doubt that these works of mortification have great efficacy for the departed. Although great works of penance and mortification are not expected of every one, yet there is no one who could not occasionally deny…

Besides prayer and other acts of devotion, there are practical good works we can perform for the relief of the suffering souls. Alms-giving is one of the most prominent, for this, being a work of mercy, is especially efficacious in obtaining mercy for the holy souls. Not the rich alone are able to give alms; the poor can do so as well; since it is not the value of the gift, but the good…

St. Dominic declares that the redemption of the holy souls from Purgatory is one of the principal effects of the Rosary. The Venerable Alanus writes that many of the brethren had appeared to them whilst reciting the Rosary, and had declared that next to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass there was no more powerful means than the Rosary to help the suffering souls. Also, that numerous souls…

Since our Divine Redeemer has given us Mary as a mother, when, dying upon the cross, He spoke to His disciple, "Behold thy mother," the Blessed Virgin regards us all as her beloved children, but she harbors most tender feelings of maternal love towards the suffering souls in Purgatory.



Let us then afford the Mother of love the satisfaction of giving abundant suffrages to the…

The holy Doctor and Cardinal, St. Bonaventure, of the Order of St, Francis, who wrote much concerning the holy souls, urges especially frequent communion in their behalf. "Let the love and compassion for your neighbor," so he writes," lead you to the holy table, for nothing is so calculated to obtain eternal rest for the holy souls."



This is confirmed by the following example:…

The Sacrifice of the Mass is the great devotion of the Catholic Church, and, of all means to assist the souls in Purgatory, none is more valuable or meritorious; for there Jesus Christ offers Himself and His infinite merits to His Heavenly Father, by the hands of the priest, in behalf of the suffering souls. The unbloody Sacrifice of the Mass does not essentially differ from the…

The Church does not apply indulgences to the souls in Purgatory, as she does to the faithful upon earth, by the tribunal of penance and absolution, but confers them simply by pious supplications and sacrifices offered in their behalf; thus they are relieved indirectly. The Holy Church opens her rich treasures of merit and satisfaction in proportion to the suffrages of the faithful, who…

"It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins."2 Mach.xii 46)



Prayer for the dead is holy because pleasing to God; wholesome, because through the merciful goodness of God it accomplishes its sublime and charitable object. Nothing is so pleasing to God as the sacrifice of love and mercy, especially when offered for the…

Holy Church teaches that the state of grace is necessary to perform good works acceptable to God and of merit to the souls in Purgatory. There are some good works, the value that does not depend upon the spiritual condition of the one who offers them. A person who may be, unfortunately, may be in the state of mortal sin, can have Masses said for the faithful departed. He himself will acquire no merit thereby,…

"Honor thy father, and forget not the groanings of thy mother. Remember that hadst not been born but through them, and make a return to them; as they have done for thee." (Eccl. vii. 29-30)



Next to God, our parents are our greatest benefactors, entitled to most tender love and gratitude, which is the sacred duty of every child. This duty does not end with this life; it…

Besides the general duty imposed upon us by the divine law of charity, there is a special duty incumbent upon everyone to assist particular souls. This duty devolves upon us in consequence of the personal relations with such souls during their earthly career; for, whatever be the condition of man in life, he will have among the souls, departed, who may be suffering in Purgatory, some to…

In regard to pompous displays for the departed, St. Augustine says: "Costly funerals and expensive displays may afford the living some consolation, but are of no benefit to the departed." He adds, however, "Let care be bestowed upon funerals and the erection of monuments; for Holy Writ reckons these among good works. Let all perform these last services for their departed, and…

In bestowing charity upon any person, we are usually guided by the degree of his poverty; but, who is in such great need as he who possesses absolutely nothing, owes a heavy debt, is unable to labor or gain any merit or even to beg, and must nevertheless suffer the most excruciating torments until the last farthing has been paid? There is a universal law to assist the needy, which…